If You Get Locked Out of Your Car, There Are Many Ways to Get Help

You just had a night out at the bar and, after waiting a half hour to pay your tab, you head over to your car for the drive home. But what’s this? That brief moment when you went to get your jacket was also the brief moment when you locked your keys inside, thus preventing you from escaping the elements and getting home to your comfy bed safe and sound in a timely manner. It’s a good thing mobile locksmiths are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, huh?

Unless you happen to have a coat hanger handy and know how to bend and twist it in a way that will allow you to stick through the window and down into the door to pop the lock, then a locksmith is probably your best bet at getting your car door opened. You could always break a window, but then you’d have to replace the window, and that’s about as fun as, well, locking your keys in the car!

A mobile locksmith will be able to easily unlock a car, whether it’s a standard key lock or one of those fancy schmancy locks that doesn’t require a standard key to open it. They’re usually pretty timely in their arrival, though you do run the risk of paying more money than you hoped. In some instances, mobile locksmiths are about as trustworthy as tow truck drivers, and many may take the opportunity to try and scam you.

If a locksmith isn’t in the cards, then you can always call the police to help you unlock the door. They might not be too pleased about it, and if you’re coming out of the bar, they may subject you to a breathalyzer to ensure that you’re capable of driving. The perks of calling a cop to unlock your door is that it’s free.

If you’re one of the lucky individuals who has AAA Roadside Assistance, then the cost of unlocking a car door (up to $50) is covered in your membership fee. Conversely, you can always have a spare key made, which you can keep in your wallet or purse, or in a special place on the outside of the car. You can purchase as a small, magnetic box that securely holds a key in an inconspicuous location on your car, such as under the bumper. That way if you lock your key in the car or lose it, you will always have a spare available right where you need it.

If you decide to go with a locksmith, make sure you keep your eyes on him and the car at all time to ensure he’s trustworthy. You should also be sure to carefully watch the process through which the door is opened in the event that this happens again and you want to attempt to do it yourself.